Reclaim The Night

Run by your Students’ Union Women’s Officer, the Sheffield campaign launches with the big Reclaim the Night March, marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. An annual march through Sheffield, this event brings together self-identifying women of all ages from across the community. The marches originally began when women all over the world started to march at night to protest violence against women and sexual harassment; they began to gain more momentum in Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester in the late 1970’s due to the serial murders across Yorkshire by Peter Sutcliffe, dubbed “the Yorkshire Ripper”, and as the Police response was effectively imposing a curfew on women. This was not something that women were prepared to tolerate and instead of staying in their homes, they took to the streets.

This year, Reclaim The Night has been opened up to the community and your Women’s Officer has put together a working group with local charities and organisations, inviting them to help organise and plan the event, whilst still ensuring it maintains its student-led core. A rally open to all genders is being held after the march with live music, spoken word and empowering speakers including Hareem Ghani, National Union of Students’ Women’s Officer; Maureen Storey, campaigner against domestic violence and Director of VIDA (formerly Sheffield Domestic Abuse Forum); and Rachel Mullan-Feroze, Service Manager for Ashiana Sheffield and campaigner on domestic violence, refugee rights, BME women’s rights and empowerment.

Events Programme

Over the two weeks, there will be a range of events from film showings and speakers, to an exhibition and diverse discussions. Some of the highlights include an exhibition, a film showing of ‘Girl Rising’, a talk from Kelly Rogers on de-criminalising sex work, Women’s Committee events based on their ‘Let Women Be’ Campaign, and ‘#MeToo? A Discussion on the Role of Social Media in Raising Awareness of Gendered Violence’.